Apparatus for the early detection of microorganisms

Abstract

The present invention describes an apparatus for detecting microorganisms in a culture container. The container includes a block having a plurality of through holes for dividing the sample into a plurality of partial samples. Each partial sample has its own head space and its own sensor. The spacial array of partial samples is read out by a CCD camera and split into partial sample to generate a spacial array that results in a substantial reduction in the time to detection.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for detecting microorganisms comprising: a container for containing a specimen from a single patient and a culture medium, said container having an inner bottom surface;   a block movably mounted inside said container and having a plurality of through holes separated by a plurality of inner walls and arranged in a pattern, said block being movable inside said container from a first position to a second position, wherein when said block is in said first position a first gap remains between the bottom of said block and the inner bottom surface of said container; and   a movable cover plate having a rubber-like septum pressed into said container to prevent gas exchange between the inside of said container and the exterior of said container, said cover plate being movable from a first position to a second position, wherein when said cover plate is in said first position a second gap remains between said cover plate and the top of said block and the specimen from the single patient is injected into said container, and   further wherein movement of said cover plate to said second position causes said block to move from said first position to said second position and presses the specimen from the single patient into each of said plurality of through holes to form a plurality of separated partial specimens from the single patient.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said container is optically transparent. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a chemical sensor inside said container;   means for illuminating said chemical sensor with excitation light by means of an array of excitation light sources to ensure that said chemical sensor receives an almost evenly distributed excitation intensity value;   an optical system for capturing an image of said chemical sensor while said chemical sensor is being excited by said excitation light intensity value; and   means for analyzing said captured image which corresponds to a spacial array of partial samples to detect microorganisms in one or more of said plurality of partial samples.   
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said block is made of an elastic material. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said block is made of a form-stable material. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a sensor evenly disposed on said inner bottom surface of said optically transparent container, said sensor interrogating said sample container for microorganism growth when illuminated by said excitation intensity and analyzed by said analyzing means. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sensor is based on fluorescence. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sensor is based on absorption. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sensor is based on color imagery. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sensor is based on scattering.